Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences Vol. 45(2), February 2016, pp. 310-312

First report of the Snake Neenchelys cheni (Chen and Weng, 1967) (Anguilliformes: : Myrophinae) from Indian waters

Dipanjan Ray & Anil Mohapatra* Marine Aquarium & Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Digha 721 428. *[E.Mail :[email protected]]

Received 21 April 2014; revised 20 May 2014

This paper reports the first occurrence of Neenchelys cheni (Chen and Weng, 1967) from Indian waters. The only species of the previously reported from the Indian coast, Neenchelys buitendijki Weber and de Beaufort, 1916 differs from N. cheni in its dorsal fin origin (well before anal opening) and other characters discussed in this paper.

[Keywords: Neenchelys cheni; Bay of Bengal; India; West Bengal; Fish] Introduction specimens of Neenchelys buitendijki Weber and The family Ophichthidae comprises about 290 species de Beaufort, 1916 (SL: 190-293 mm, Registration within 52 genera and two sub families Myrophinae MARC/ZSI/F3541) were also collected from the 1,2 No and Ophichthinae . Subfamily Myrophinae consists same locality. Fishermen of Shankarpur fishing of 13 genera and the subfamily Ophichthinae has 44 harbour generally collect fish by bottom trawl genera; the Myrophinae differ from the Ophichthinae nets and do not exceed the Indian territorial by having a conspicuous caudal fin, a flexible tail tip, the dorsal and anal fins are confluent with caudal fin. limits. Fresh photgraphs of the specimen were Neenchelys Bamber, 1915 comprises nine valid Indo- taken and the fishes were preserved in 10% Pacific region species and differs from other genera of formalin. The taxonomic key, measurements and 3 Myrophinae by having a pectoral fin, uniserial counts follow those of Ho et al. . Measurements vomerine teeth, a pointed snout, the snout length were made with digital calipers and recorded to the twice or more than the eye diameter, posterior nostril nearest 0.1 mm. Vertebrae were counted from digital located above the lips and open outside the mouth, x-rays and teeth and head pores were counted using a and two pre-opercular pores. Members of this family Leica EZ4 microscope. are associated with a variety of marine habitats including sandy or muddy substrates, midwater and Neenchelys cheni (Chen and Weng, 1967) reefs. Some ophichthid species are known from few or even single specimens due to their tail burrowing nature, nocturnal activity and habitat preference3,4. During a survey to the Shankarpur Fishing harbour the authors collected four specimens of Neenchelys cheni (Chen and Weng, 1967) which are reported for the first time from Indian waters, as well as four specimens of Neenchelys buitendijki Weber and de Beaufort, 1916 previously unreported from the West Bengal coast.

Materials and Methods During a local survey around Shankarpur fishing Fig. 1—Neenchelys cheni (Chen and Weng, 1967), (SL: 354-342 mm, Registration No MARC/ZSI/F3540) harbour the authors collected four specimens of Diagnostic Characters snake and identified them as Neenchelys cheni (Chen and Weng, 1967), (SL: 354-342 mm, Registration No MARC/ZSI/F3540). Four RAY & MOHAPATRA: FIRST REPORT OF THE SNAKE EEL NEENCHELYS CHENI FROM INDIA WATERS 311

Dorsal-fin origin behind the anal opening. Predorsal part of it having small outer rows of teeth. Total length more than 40 % of total length. Percentage of vertebrae 182-183. Temporal and inter-orbotal pore 1; gill opening to dorsal-fin origin is more than 90 % of Supra-orbital pores 1+4; infra-orbital pores:5+2; the trunk length. mandibular pores 5; pre-opercular pores 2; supra- temporal pores 3; cephalic latertal line pores 10; pre- Table-1. Morphometric characters of dorsal pores 57-59; pre-anal pores 61-64. Neenchelys cheni (Chen and Weng, 1967) Colour: Present Ho et al., 2013 In fresh specimens body whitish brown, head Characters Study (n=4) (n=17) brownish red; posterior-rmost part of dorsal and anal Total length 354-342 mm 334-414 mm fins and caudal fin with black margin. In preservative % of TL colour pale brown, margin of tail tip black. Head length 9.24-10.51 8.6-12.2 Distribution: 3 Pre-dorsal length 40.43-41.7 37.7-41.9 Southern Taiwan, Vietnam, Australia, Gulf of Oman . Trunk length 27.27-27.96 26.9-31.1 Pre-anal length 38.35-39.47 36.2-39.8 Conclusion 59.88-61.4 60.2-64.4 Tail length Indian coastal water comprise 24 species of % of HL ophichthid eel within 16 genera5. Though the genus Snout length 19.57-20 19.1-24.2 Neenchelys is well distributed in the Indo-Pacific Eye diameter 6.28-7.14 6.2-10.2 region, there is only one species of the genus Inter-orbital space 11.14-12.57 10.8-15.6 Neenchelys buitendijki Weber and de Beaufort, 1916 5 Body depth at reported from Indian coast . The present paper reports head 27.21-28.85 27.2-37.3 the first occurrence Neenchelys cheni from India. Body depth at Neenchelys buitendijki differs (Fig 1 & 2) from anus 19.42-20.85 19.4-30.1 Neenchelys cheni in the following characters: origin Post-orbital length 70.6-71.9 69.5-75.6 of dorsal fin well before anal opening, % of predorsal Upper-jaw length 25.7-27.6 26.6-37.1 in total length less than 20 % ( 40% or more in Gill-opening Neenchelys cheni), of gill opening to dorsal fin origin height 4.71-5.94 5.6-13.5 in trunk length is less than 21% of trunk length ( more Pectoral-fin length 10.29-13.7 10.3-16.4 than 90 in Neenchelys cheni). Morphometric data of present study matches well with data provided by Ho et al.3(Table-1). Our report of Neenchelys cheni Description: (Chen and Weng, 1967) from extends the range of the Body moderately elongate, roboust, anteriorly species to Indian waters. cylindrical and slightly compressed in caudal region (Fig-1). Tail more longer than head and trunk combined; body scaleless. Pectoral fin present; caudal fin confluent with dorsal and anal fins. Head terete; snout broad and pointed; lower jaw shorter than upper jaw; lips without berbels. Anterior nostril tubular, posterior nostril an elongate slit present below lower margin of eye. Eye reltively small, rictus of mouth beneath a vertical through a posterior margin of eye. Gill opening constricted and rounded. Dorsal-fin origin behind the anal opening. Teeth uniserial, posterior end of maxilla small, outer rows of teeth present; vomerine teeth uniserial and reach to ends of maxillae; lower jaw with uniserial teeth and posterior Fig. 2—Neenchelys buitendijki Weber and de Beaufort, 1916 1916 (SL: 190-293 mm, Registration No MARC/ZSI/F3541) 312 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 45, NO. 2 FEBRUARY 2016

Acknowledgement 2. Nelson, J.S., Fishes of the World. 4th Ed. (John Wiley and sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey) 2006. Authors are thankful to Dr. K. Venkataraman, 3. Ho, H.C., McCosker, J.E. and Smith, D.G., Revision of the Director, Zoological Survey of India, for providing worm eel genus Neenchelys (Ophichthidae: Myrophinae), necessary facilities for the work. Authors are also with descriptions of three new species from the western Pacific Ocean. Zoological Studies., 52 (2013) 58. thankful to Dr. David G. Smith, Smithsonian 4. Castle, P.H.J. and McCosker, J.E, A new genus and two Institution, for his kind support and providing new species of Myrophine Worm -eels, with comments on literature. Author DR is thankful to ZSI for the senior Muraenichthys and Scolecenchelys (Anguiliformes: research fellowship. Ophichthidae). Records of Australian Museum., 51 (1999) 113-122. References 5. Biswas, S., Mishra, S.S., Satpathy, K.K. and Selvanayagam, 1. McCosker, J.E. and Randall, J.E., Revision of the snake-eel M., First record of stargazer snake eel Brachysomophis genus Brachysomophis (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), cirrocheilos (Osteichthyes:Ophichthidae) from India. with description of two new species and comments on the Marine Biodiversity Records.,3 e85 (2010) 1-3. species of Mystriophis. Indi-Pacific Fishes (Honolulu)., 33 (2001) 32.